LEAD 2025 Conference: Through the Water

by Hugo Bravo

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:14

On the first night of LEAD 2025, Dr. Bryan Cook, corps leadership development bureau director and the conference organizer, welcomed attendees to Camp Allegheny in Pennsylvania, where they’d gathered to develop practical skills for evangelism, discipleship, and caring for God’s people. Cook explained why “Through the Water” had been chosen as the recurring theme for the week — designed for soldiers, lay leaders, and officers who seek to expand the Kingdom of God in their communities.

“In Scripture, water is never just a background element. It’s linked to divine encounters. It was at the beginning of Creation, formless and chaotic,” said Cook. “Water is a sign of freedom, such as when God parted the waters to make a way for the Israelites. Later, water from a rock appeared before them as they traveled through a barren desert. At the well in Samaria, Jesus offered ‘living water’ to a woman who no one thought would have a place in His ministry.

“For those who have come to LEAD, who may have some chaos in their own lives, or are feeling dry and barren in their ministry, there is living water here. Stand at the edge of it. Run and plunge into it, let it cleanse you, wash over you, and drink from it.”

A deep ocean of love

The first speakers at the Monday evening session were Commissioners Ralph and Susan Bukiewicz. Commissioner Susan spoke about their position as the territorial leaders of The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory and how they’ve seen soldiers hungry for the Holy Spirit within the territory, like the soldiers who were attending LEAD 2025.

“Our prayer is that the Eastern Territory becomes known for its sanctified soldiers, who walk every day in His Word,” said Commissioner Susan.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Ralph spoke about Psalm 36, in which David compares God’s love to the vastness of Heaven and His justice to the deepest seas. He wondered whether Founder William Booth read these words himself and was inspired to write “O Boundless Salvation,” the traditional Army hymn that praises the Lord for his deep ocean of love.

“You can’t look anywhere without seeing it, and you cannot run anywhere without experiencing it,” said Commissioner Ralph. “There is no person that we encounter, or has encountered us, that cannot experience that ocean of love.”

An app on his phone, he said, can tell him his sleep, stress, and energy levels. But he’s noticed that no matter how relaxed he feels, he has never seen his levels hit a perfect 100%.

“We don’t have an app that measures our own spiritual levels. I suspect that even at our best, we will never reach 100% either, even though we serve a God that goes to 100% and beyond,” he said. “When we are feeling depleted spiritually, we need to plunge once again into those deep oceans of love and pursue that 100% Christian perfection. Not a human perfection, but rather, a perfect Christ-like holiness that He desires to give each of us.”

Water from a rock

Even in retirement, Major Jorge L. Marzán has remained active, said Mission Engagement Secretary Major Sun-Kyung Simpson as she introduced the second session speaker. Marzán is still involved in Army events such as Candidates Seminar and has traveled as far as Africa, where he served as a translator.

“That’s what makes him so special. He continues to serve wherever God asks,” said Simpson. “I pray for him, the faithful journey he walks, and the countless lives that have been impacted by his ministries.”

Marzán, who was first introduced to The Salvation Army in San Juan, Puerto Rico, spoke about the Puerto Rican corps officers who shaped his own walk with the Lord.

“I wouldn’t be here without their openness and desire to make a difference in my life,” said Marzán. “There are people sent by God to make a difference in all our lives. If you are one of those people, keep doing it! Keep investing in others.”

Marzán said that as God manifests Himself in those people, so did He manifest Himself for the Israelites wandering through the desert, when He allowed water to flow from a rock after Moses struck it.

“The Israelites were on a difficult journey walking in the wilderness. There was rebellion, hopelessness, and uncertainty among them. Some wished that they had died as their brothers had in Egypt,” said Marzán.

In our own wilderness, we tend to lose focus and make God a lesser priority. But God meets the needs of His people.

“When our heart is troubled and in need of water, we may show half-hearted obedience or take liberties on what we think God is saying and how it fits into our lives. We get disconnected from Him,” he said. “But like Moses and the Israelites, we need that water from the rock only God can provide.”

Crossing the Red Sea

Session speakers at LEAD 2025 also included Christian figures from outside of The Salvation Army. Dr. Brian Russell, author and professor of biblical studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, spoke about a topic he was very familiar with: the crossing of the Red Sea from the Book of Exodus, on which he had written his Ph.D. dissertation.

He shared a story about a dog he owned, a 160-pound Great Dane named Morpheus. One November night, the dog had woken him up with loud barking. A leftover deflated Halloween decoration had come down from the ceiling and spooked Morpheus.

“As I watched Morpheus, I realized that everyone, no matter how big, is afraid of something. Within us, there is something frightening us, and keeping us from stepping into the life God has promised.”

The story of Exodus, Russell explained, is more than just a story about an army chasing people. It’s God literally proving that there is no one mightier than He, and how much greater He is than any of our fears.

“Think of Pharaoh, seen as a god of death that committed genocide against God’s people, as he sends 600 of his handpicked chariots after the Israelites,” said Russell. “And we know water can bring chaos through storms and hurricanes. The Israelites were between two great fears: death and chaos. Deep down, those are two existential threats that we all have.”

Russell said that the miracle of Moses parting the Red Sea essentially foreshadows the resurrection of Jesus. Both are events that change everything. They are victories that announce who God really is.

“Today, God is delivering you from your fear,” said Russell. “But also think of what God is delivering you for. The Exodus called His people to live a life of missional holiness. It’s never just asking God to get you out of your fear; it’s getting out so we can live fully through Him.”

Living waters

Wednesday’s morning session featured Dr. Madeline Henners, a professor of spiritual formation and field education at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

“In John 7, the Israelites are celebrating Sukkot, a festival of harvest to remind them of their time in the wilderness. The harvest of the year is starting, and they all ask for what crops need to grow: water,” said Henners.

At the end of the festival, the biggest and loudest day of Sukkot, Jesus stood up and shouted to the crowd, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!” (NLT).

“Sometimes we read this and assume that Jesus is saying He is the living water. But He’s saying that He provides the living water,” she said. “That water is the Holy Spirit, the ongoing presence of God for the people. It’s a provision of Heaven in this desolate, dry land that is the world of man.”

Henners said, “Just as a dry land cannot hydrate itself, a person cannot live eternally without Jesus. But Jesus is not rebuking their calls. Even in the wilderness, God was providing, and now they are seeing and hearing the fulfillment of the image that has unfolded for centuries. They are seeing the Messiah, who fulfills beyond their wildest imagination that which brings life.”